John M. Van Osdel

John Mills Van Osdel (July 31 1811 – December 21 1891)cite web|url=http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/browse/bioshell.html?bioV&VanOsdelJohnM|accessdate=2007-09-14|title=Biographical Dictionary: V-Vol|work=Electronic Encyclopedia of Chicago |date=2005 |publisher=Chicago Historical Society] was an American architect who is considered the first Chicago architect.cite web|url=http://www.auditoriumtheatre.org/wb/pages/home/about-us/historical-timeline.php|accessdate=2007-09-14|date=2006|publisher=Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University|title=HISTORICAL TIMELINE] He is considered a peer of the most prominent architects in the history of Chicago. He has also done significant work throughout Illinois and the Midwest, although much of it no longer exists.

Chicago firsts

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Van Osdel planned the first architect-designed house in Chicago for the first Mayor of Chicago, William Ogden. The house was located on Rush Street.Clark, p. 3] cite web|url=http://www.northwestindiana.com/photos/displayimage.php?album=search&cat=0&pos=0|accessdate=2007-09-15|title= La Porte County's Second Court House, c. 1848.|publisher=northwestindiana.com] Ogden commissioned Van Osdel, who came from New York to Chicago for the job. By 1844, he had opened Chicago's first architectural firm. In addition, he secured passage of the city's first building code.clarifyme

Reputation

He is considered a Chicago school architect and a peer of William LeBaron Jenney, Dankmar Adler, Louis Sullivan, Daniel Burnham, John Wellborn Root and Frank Lloyd Wright.cite web|url=http://www.auditoriumtheatre.org/wb/pages/home/education/chicagos-landmark-stage/chicago-the-world.php|accessdate=2007-09-14|date=2006|publisher=Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University|title=Chicago & The World: America in 1889] In fact, he and William W. Boyington are considered the most prominent Chicago architects of the period from the city's incorporation in 1837 until the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.cite web|url=http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/2464.html|accessdate=2007-09-14|work=Electronic Encyclopedia of Chicago |date=2005 |publisher=Chicago Historical Society|title=Architecture]

Other buildings

Much of his work has been destroyed by fire, but remaining structures stand as local landmarks, with many listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Van Osdel designed the Palmer House, Tremont House and Page Brothers Building in Chicago,cite web|url=http://www.ci.chi.il.us/Landmarks/P/PageBrothers.html|title=Chicago Landmarks - Page Brothers Building|date=2007-07-21|work=Chicago Landmarks|publisher=City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development, Landmarks Division|accessdate=2007-09-15] the Illinois Executive Mansion in Springfield, the state capital, [cite web|url=http://www.state.il.us/gov/mansion2/htmls/ground.html|accessdate=2007-09-14|title=Executive Mansion Tour|publisher=State of Illinois] the Old McHenry County Courthouse, Old Main at the University of Arkansas, and some courthouses in Indiana. He also designed the first cast-iron building for the Lake Street central business district. Chicago City Hall sits on the site of a former Van Osdel building that housed a county courthouse and city hall.cite web|url=http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/1019.html|accessdate=2007-09-15|work=Electronic Encyclopedia of Chicago |date=2005 |publisher=Chicago Historical Society|title=Public Buildings in the Loop] Van Osdel's 1872 McCarthy Building was demolished along with the rest of Block 37 in 1987 despite its Chicago Landmark status. [cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20060117/ai_n16002907|date=2006-01-17|title=An Old Tradition: Do federal shenanigans lurk behind Berghoff|publisher=FindArticles|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author=Roeder, David]

Van Osdel died at age 80 in Chicago.

Notes

References

*Clark, Herma, "Let's Walk Along Rush Street," Tribune Company, 1952.